Ratchet casing-tongs or pipe-wrench.



T. HUGHES. RATCHET UASING TONGS OR PIPE WRENCH. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 20, 1902.

Patented Apr. 6 1909.

i'is (Q5 ineaya y" THOMAS HUGHES, OF PALMS, CALIFORNIA.

RA'IQEETGASING-TONGS 0B PIPE-WEENCH.

To all it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HUGHES, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Palms, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Ratchet Casing-Tongs or Pipe- Wrench, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of tongs designed for screwing and unscrewing well-casings of large diameter, in oil-wells or other deep wells in which great force is required in tightening the joint between the sections of casing. The invention is applicable, however, for use in'screwing together any cylindrical pipes or other bodies.

An object of this invention is to provide a wrenchthat will clamp the well-casing in such a manner that it will not slip thereon and do this without any liability of crushing or indenting the same.

Another object is. to provide simple and effective means whereby a tongs or pipe wrench of the characterabove-mentioned can be operated as a ratchet-wrench through a small are for complete rotation of the eas- An object of the invention is to provide a casing-tongs which can be readily o erated in any well-rig, by a jerk-line and areturn weight.

The principle of this invention is that a flexible band'is provided to clasp and support the casing; the same being adapted to be drawn tightly onto the casing, and being provided with a dog or ratchet in the form of a friction block to engage the casing, and with T a lever to force the dog against the casing when'the wrench is being operated to turn the pipe; said dog being smooth in some instances and in others being notched or serrated to bite into the surface of the casing, the same having a gripping face of suflicient area'to do away with all danger ol indenting or crushing the casing where the same is en gaged'by the dog. The clasp or band is preferably formed of a number of members jointed together and adapted to tit around the outside of the casing or other-body to be turned.

Another feature is a link to loosely connect the lever with the jointed band to hold the band from parting on the back stroke of the wrench.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 20, 1908. Serial No. 11,763.

Patented April 6, 1909.

y The invention may be embodied in different forms and of various materials and I do tion.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in the form I at present deem most desirable.

Figure 1 is a plan of a casing tongs embodying this invention and applied to a well casing which is shown in cross section. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same tongs open and detached from the casing which is omitted from the view. Fig. 3 is a projection from Fig. 2 showing in side elevation, the open tongs detached. Fig. 4 is a face view of the ratchet dog or friction block. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the dog detached, the same showing the smoothfaced form. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on line r x Fig. 1. In Figs. 1 and 2 the lever is broken to contract the view.

1 is the tongs handle, the same being an iron or steel lever pivoted by a bolt 2 to duplicate lever-carrying links 3 that are pivoted by a bolt 4 to a connecting link 5 which ispivotedhy a bolt 6 to duplicate dog-carry ing links .7; in the ends of which is a bolt 8 that pivots a ratchet, detent friction block or dog 9 to said dog-carrying links 7. The clasp members 3, 5 and], are provided with smooth internal arc faces 10, 11, and 12, respectively, curved to correspond with the external face of the casing a or other cylindrical body to be operated upon, and adaptedto completely encircle the same, and the inner face 13 of the ratchet 9 is in some instances smooth and in others may be ser rated or otherwise formed and is designed to take tight hold upon the casing when forced into engagement therewith by the lever 1 which is provided with a tip or tongue 14 to the wrench is in place on a well-casing or other cylindrical body, and the lever operated for the purpose of turning such body. In case the dog 9 has serrations or teeth the same are directed away from the pivot'by which said dog is connected to the duplicate links 7 that carry it so as to slipwhen the wrench is turned to drag the dog, and to take hold on the reverse movement.

on a well-casing or other cylindrical body to be gripped, the free end pf the dog is adnot limit the same to any specific construcengage the dog and force it inwardly when In order to place the wrench on position justed or swung toward the pivot 6 which pivots dogmarrying links I to the connect-ing link 5, and the band comprising the 1 members 3, 5 and 7 is then brought zuse'und the cylindrical body a, and then the lever 1 is swung into position to cause its tip or.

tongue 14 to engage the outer face 15 of the ratchet, dog or dctent 9. said dog is arm 1' v Saidouter face 15 of aged a'slant outward from its tip or free end toward. the eye of said dog, so

that when the tip lei of the lever engages the outer face ol the dog and is opera ted to force the dog toward the casing u, or corresponding body, there will be also a tendency to force the free end of the duplicate links "7 toward the lever-oarrying links 3, thus to tighten the clamp by the action oi the tip or tongue 16 designates an extensible, adjustable link ivoted by a pivot 17 to the lever it, and provided at its free end with a head it? to engage a retainer 19 in the form oi two fingers fastened by rivets 20 to the connecting link 5,

One of said fingers is preferably provided,

with a catch in the form of a spring 21 to resiliently hold the link 16 when the same has been pressed into place in the retainer, Said link is'forrned of two screw-tlneaded portions 22, 23, connected by a turnlnmkie. 24 screwing onto the threaded portions 22,

23, o e of which is right and the other is left threa ed so that by turning the turnbuckle the link may be lengthened or shortened, thus to give greater or less play for the lever in working backward and forward to opcrate the wrench as n. ratchet wrellcli.'

25 designates a jerl -line for d swing the lever in one direction to turn the pipe, and 26 is a weighted line designed to pull in opposition to the jerk-line to make the back stroke of the wrench when the same is used as a ratchet-wrench.

In practical use the wrench. may be applied to the casing by simply bending arounll the casing the jointed members 3, 5, and 7,

which are rigid respectively, and jointed togather as described, care being taken that the dog is bent inward toward the pivot 45, as shown in Fig. 1.

- and the return line 26 which may be operated by a weight or a spring, not shown, Wlll be ad usted, and the engine started iut jerk-line, whereupon the lever will be swung to and fro in a orizonl'al line, thus alter nately causing the casing to be gripped and Thenthe jerk-line 25 1 new I or shortened to allow a greater or less loosen- 5 mg of the band on the back-stroke.

The ratchet, detent, dog, friction block or device at 9 may be a member of any desirable form, pivoted to and movable relative to the other members ol the band; a principle of the invention being that one member ot-the band is :n'rangod in position to be engaged by the short arm of a lever Fulcrinned to another niembcr of the band and when said member is so engaged, and force applied to the lever, the seine will move the frictional member inwardly :w-tiust the object which is e cirr cd by the band, whereby the use of iilt. tonal block, dog, dete'nt or ratchet having a frictional su'rl aceol large extent, to dis tribute the strain over a considerable area of the pipe is permitted; thus enabling the pipe to withstand the strain an d yet allowingv t e pressure of the frictional block upon the pipe to be sullicienth forcible to prevent slipping even where the dog is provided with a broad polished taco to frictionally engage a po' The use of a smooth faced tslr'cd body. W of this character is especially des'rable where polished, linished,-painted of coated "pipes or rods are to be gripped withmlt marring. The det'ent 9 extends outwardly from the axis of the band toward the lci'er pivot to aii'ord a purchase for the or til tighten the band as well as to force me (intent in-- wardly. V

. A feature ol the in'ver'ition is thet the onus of the bands overlap, the detent extends along the inln'er face of the member to which it is pivoted and consequently along the innerfiace oi the band while the outer face of the detent extends tangentially relatively to the band, andithe end or head of the lever is adapted to move along said tsce toward the pivot of the detent, the detent serving not only in the nature of a friction block but also as a coin, the engagement between which. and the lever is a proximately in line between the axis of the. an d and the axis of the lever pivot so that maximum leverage and the wedging actions are simultaneously employed to tighten a grip upon the pipe or ice casing in the operation of turning the same. operation in the usual manner to ]6Il{ the l. A casing tongs comprising a flexible overlapping open band, a ratchet pivoted at one end of the ban d and extending along the cam-like cranes inner face thereof, and a-lever pivoted at the 7 adapted to completely encircle a cylinder, at

other end of the band to simultaneously press the ratchet inward and to relatively move the pivots of the lever and ratchet apart.

2. A llexible band, a detent pivoted to one end of theband, and a lever pivoted to the other end of the band to'cngage the detent between its pivot and the middle of the band to press the detent inwardly.

3. A band adapted to encircle a cylinder, a detent pivoted to the band and adapter-.lto fold inside the circle of said band to engage the encircled cylinder, and a lever pivoted to the band and adapted to slide along the d8 tent toward the pivot thereof to force the detent inwardly.

4. A band, a detent connected therewith, and a lever ivoted to the band and adapted to engage t e detent, said detent extending tangentially between the pivot of the lever and the inner face of the band to afford a purchase for the lever to tighten the band.

5. A band formed ,of a plurality of members ivoted together and provided with inward y-curvcd faces to engage a cylinder, a detent pivoted to one of said members and extending along the inner face thereo'ffto also engage the cylinder, and a lever pivoted to another of said members to engage the detent to, simultaneously tighten the band on and force the detent into engagement with the object encircled by the bands 6. Three members pivoted together and provided with inwardly-curved faces to encircle a cylinder, a, detent on and extending along the inner face of one of said members, a lever on another of said members to engage the detent and tighten the band, a retainer on another one of said members, and a link loosely connectin the'lever with the retainer.

7. Three members pivoted together and provided with inwardly-curved faces and adapted to completely encircle a cylinder, a detent at one end of said pivoted members to fold within the circle formed by such members, a lever on another of said members to engage the detent thus folded and to tighten the band, a retainer on another of said memhers, and an adjustable link loosely connecting the lever with the retainer.

,8. Three members pivoted together and provided with inwardly-curved faces to encircle a cyhnder, a detent on one endof and bers to prevent the-band from fully opening extending along the inner face of one of said members, a lever on another of said members to engage the detent and tighten the band, a

retainer on another one of said members, and a link pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage the retainer.

9. Three members ivoted together and provided with inwarrly-curved faces and ldetent pivoted to one end of one 01 said i members to project inside the circle .lorined l by such members, a lever on anotl of .e' i l memhersto engage the detent 2' I the band, a retaineron another or i hers, and anadjustable link pivot lever and adapted to engage the retainer.

10. A casing tongs comprising a link, this ilicate members pivoted to one end of said link, a detent pivoted between the duplicate members, other duplicate members pivoted "to the other end of said link, a lever pivoted between the other of said duplicate members and adapted to engage the detent to draw 'said members together and to force the do tent inwardly. 11. A casing tongs comprising a link, duplicate members pivoted to one end of said link, a detent pivoted betwee the duplicate to the other end of said link, a lever pivoted between the other of said duplicate members and adapted to engage the detent to draw said members together and to force the tie tent inward, and means to loosely connect said lever withv said link.

22. A casing tongs comprising three memband, a ratchet pivoted to one of said mom bers and extending alon the inner face there of, and a lever pivoted to another of said members and adapted to engage the ratchet to tightenthc hand on and press the ratchet against the casing.

13. A casing tongs comprising three H1813? hers pivoted together and adapted to form a band, a ratchet pivoted'to and movable inmembers, a lever pivoted to another of said members and adapted to engage the ratchet to tighten theband on. and rose the ratchet against the casing, and a ink loosely connecting the lever with the intermediate member. a

' 14. A ratchet casing tongs comprising three members pivoted together to encircle the casing, and each provided with curved faces to fit the casing, a ratchet pivoted to and movable inwardly from one of said members and provided with teeth to engage the casing, a lever to engage the ratchet to simultaneously tighten the band formed by said members and to force the ratchet into on connecting the lever with one of said mom-- on the back-stroke.

15. A wrench comprising a plurality of j members pivoted together and adapted to embrace a cylindrical body, one of said meml bers being provided with a dog pivoted l thereto and having a face inside the band, land another member being provided with a members, other duplicate members pivoted to the bers pivoted togeth'erand adapted to form a wardly from the inner face of one of said gagernent with the casing, and means loosely having a head to engage mid (10g to Am the, band {armed by the other 11mm m (103; inwardly.

11% An overhxpping 3;- 5 i'liuciun member and EL law-e1 com:

11d adapted u. simuiumeously 1 the lwbnd. um! one iu\=m'zdiy relative to the band.

17 A tungs 01" wre nch comprising 11mm '10 bars ioislimi mf atuel to 01m am Qwariapping nu pruvixlied with friction mum band, a friction member, and a laver to f bar inwardiy relative to the band.

In testimony whereof, 1 hzwe hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 15th may at January, 1908.

{ THOMAS HUGHES.

1 1n prgseuoe 01' a JAMES bi. TOWNSEND, JULIA 'lownsmn.

Lighten the band. and force the friction memi 

